My heart hurts

for a family I don't even know. Most of you know how much I absolutely love Avery's school. I was able to work there this past year and it is a place where you feel like you are friends with everyone even if you don't actually know them. Yesterday I learned about a family who has an 8 year old, a 5 year old and a daughter Reagan's age. The youngest daughter was a twin, but they lost her brother at birth. On Wednesday this family suffered a horrible accident. In the family driveway somehow the car was not put in park and it ran over the mom and the youngest daughter. The little girl was killed and the mom who was 7 months pregnant was rushed to the hospital to have an emergency c-section. I am told that the 5 year old - just one year older than Avery - watched the entire thing from the curb and was yelling for help because her Mommy was hurt. What devastation!

I have looked around my house this morning and where I am usually frustrated and discouraged, I am grateful for the messes. I am thankful for the sink full of sippy cups and the baskets full of laundry. I'm ok with yet another night where sleep was interrupted by a crying child. I simply cannot imagine the alternative.

Please join me in praying for this family who now has to take care of a premie in the hospital as well as plan a funeral for a coffin much too small. Join me in thanking God for the kids in your life - your own or others. Enjoy the messes and the sloppy kisses and the songs sang at top volume in the backseat. I pray that God helps me to keep this perspective and that my "normal" is a little different than it was yesterday morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay1vgulzR8I